Drive with care: Uber launches service for extra help

Making sure loved ones can get to medical appointments, the supermarket or cafe catch-ups could become easier after the launch of a rideshare service designed for caregivers. Uber Australia unveiled the feature on Tuesday, following its launch in the United States earlier in 2024. But while the service can be used by the 460,000 paid caregivers employed in Australia, representatives for the tech firm said it was also designed to help extended families and members of the "sandwich generation", who were taking care of children as well as elderly parents. Uber launched its Caregiver service in the US in May, allowing people who required travel assistance to nominate a caregiver to place bookings on their behalf. The feature lets appointed caregivers edit and track their route and introduces a three-way chat feature with a driver to discuss additional information, such as drop-off details. Allowing caregivers to book travel would help remove stress for both parties, Uber Australia managing director Emma Foley told AAP. "There's a big use case for people in that sandwich generation who are caring for their older relatives, often parents," she said. "We do see a lot more of those situations where people aren't living in the same cities as their elderly parents and they want to be able to keep an eye on them and help them with their day-to-day transport." A survey of more than 1000 Australians by the Health Professional Councils Authority found 84 per cent of NDIS participants relied on others to book their travel. Uber worked with disability inclusion consultancy Get Skilled Access over the launch of the service and co-chief executive Zack Alcott said it could help remove barriers for many people in the community. "We all have a responsibility to contribute to a more inclusive society," he said. Uber Caregiver would be available across all tiers of the ride-share service including UberX, Ms Foley said, although riders who required additional assistance getting into and out of vehicles would need to select a ride with Uber Assist. The service will compete with accessible and wheelchair-equipped taxis, many of which are incentivised by state governments. Uber planned to work with Get Skilled Access to develop and launch more accessibility features across more of its services, Ms Foley said.